Charles Townshend Murdoch
Encyclopedia
Charles Townshend Murdoch (27 May 1837 — 8 July 1898) was a banker and Conservative
politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1885 and 1898.
Murdoch was the son of James Gordon Murdoch, of Ashfold, Sussex and his wife Caroline Penelope Gambier daughter of Samuel Gambier and sister of Edward John Gambier
. He was educated at Eton College
and became a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade. Later he was a captain in the South Middlesex Volunteers and adjutant of the Hertfordshire Yeoman Cavalry. He became a banker and was a partner in the firm of Ransom, Bouverie & Co and a director of Imperial Fire Insurance Co and London Life Association. He was also chairman of the Llanelly Railway and a J.P.
for Berkshire
living at Wokingham
.
At the 1885 general election
, Murdoch was elected as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Reading
, holding the seat until his defeat in 1892
. He regained the seat in 1895
, and held it until his death aged 61 in 1898. His opponents in the elections were members of the Palmer family of Huntley & Palmers
biscuits.
Murdoch married Sophia Speke, daughter of W Speke of Ilminster, in 1862 and had several daughters.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1885 and 1898.
Murdoch was the son of James Gordon Murdoch, of Ashfold, Sussex and his wife Caroline Penelope Gambier daughter of Samuel Gambier and sister of Edward John Gambier
Edward John Gambier
Sir Edward John Gambier was a judge in India, chief justice of Madras.Gambier, third son of Samuel Gambier, first commissioner of the navy , by Jane, youngest daughter of Daniel Mathew of Felix Hall, Essex, and nephew of Admiral James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier, was born in 1794 and entered at...
. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and became a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade. Later he was a captain in the South Middlesex Volunteers and adjutant of the Hertfordshire Yeoman Cavalry. He became a banker and was a partner in the firm of Ransom, Bouverie & Co and a director of Imperial Fire Insurance Co and London Life Association. He was also chairman of the Llanelly Railway and a J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
living at Wokingham
Wokingham
Wokingham is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire in South East England about west of central London. It is about east-southeast of Reading and west of Bracknell. It spans an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 30,403...
.
At the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
, Murdoch was elected as the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Reading
Reading (UK Parliament constituency)
Reading was a parliamentary borough, and later a borough constituency, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It comprised the town of Reading in the county of Berkshire....
, holding the seat until his defeat in 1892
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
. He regained the seat in 1895
United Kingdom general election, 1895
The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery...
, and held it until his death aged 61 in 1898. His opponents in the elections were members of the Palmer family of Huntley & Palmers
Huntley & Palmers
Huntley & Palmers was a British firm of biscuit makers originally based in Reading, Berkshire. The company created one of the world's first global brands and ran what was once the world’s largest biscuit factory. Over the years, the company was also known as J...
biscuits.
Murdoch married Sophia Speke, daughter of W Speke of Ilminster, in 1862 and had several daughters.